Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe

Updated as of Augus 15, 2025

Independent Director

72 Years Old

Estela M. Perlas – Bernabe was Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. She is a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre since February 2025. She is also an independent director of BDO Unibank, Inc., BDO Private Bank, Aboitiz Power Corporation, San Miguel Food & Beverage, Inc., Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions, Inc., and Petrogen Insurance Corporation. She is also a director of PHILJA (Philippine Judicial Academy) Development Center, Inc. and a trustee of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity.

Justice Perlas – Bernabe served the Philippine Judiciary in various capacities. She was appointed as associate justice of the Supreme Court in 2011 and was Division Chairperson of the Second Division from 2019 until her retirement in 2022. She was also the Bar Examinations Chairperson in 2019. Prior her appointment to the Supreme Court, she was associate justice of the Court of Appeals from 2004 to 2011; Regional Trial Court Judge of Makati City from 2000 to 2004; and Metropolitan Trial Court Judge of the same city from 1996 to 2000. After passing the bar in 1977, she served as technical assistant in the Supreme Court under the Office of Court Administrator Lorenzo Relova.

In addition to her solid background in the Philippine Judiciary, she was also a law professor at the Ateneo Law School from 2009 to 2011 and engaged in private legal practice under Bernabe Perlas Morte & Associates as Senior Partner from 1993 to 1996. She also worked in various private offices from 1978 to 1993 namely, China Banking Corporation, Paramount Finance Corporation, and National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation.

Justice Perlas – Bernabe completed her Bachelor of Science in Commerce Banking and Finance at St. Paul College of Manila and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1972. She earned her law degree in Ateneo College of Law, graduating as Class Salutatorian in 1976 and passed the bar in 1977 with a rating of 85.15%.

In recognition of her exemplary service and track record, the Supreme Court created an award in her name called “The Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas- Bernabe Exemplary Career Jurist Award” bestowed to a distinct set of Justices of the Supreme Court who have served the Judiciary in all court levels, particularly from a trial court to a lower collegiate court and finally up to the Supreme Court, and have achieved a zero backlog or zero docket upon every promotion to the next-level court until their retirement from the Supreme Court. She also received various awards and distinctions namely, “Judicial Medal of Distinction” in 2022 (Supreme Court of the Philippines), “Distinguished Alumni Award for the Judiciary” in 2018 (Ateneo de Manila Alumni Association, Inc.), “Gawad Dangal ng Lipi” in 2012 (Provincial Government of Bulacan), Gawad Parangal 2008 as Outstanding Alumna for Dedicated Service to Country and People (St. Paul University Manila), Court of Appeals Award for Exemplary Performance in 2007 (CA Award of Recognition for Outstanding Performance in Case Disposition), and Natatanging Babaeng Hukom in 2003 (Municipality of Plaridel, Bulacan) among others.

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